Vogue's new model policy

Vogue magazine is setting a solid new precedent in the fashion industry: They will no longer use underage models in their editorial spreads. What brought on this change?

You won't be seeing the faces of ridiculously young girls tarted up like sirens on the pages of any of the 19 different international editions of Vogue anymore. The magazine has declared they will no longer feature models under the age of 16 in any of their fashion shoots beginning with their June issues.

Condé Nast International chairman, Jonathan Newhouse, made the announcement Thursday. "Vogue editors around the world want the magazines to reflect their commitment to the health of the models who appear on the pages and the well-being of their readers."

"1. We will not knowingly work with models under the age of 16 or who appear to have an eating disorder. We will work with models who, in our view, are healthy and help to promote a healthy body image."

"2. We will ask agents not to knowingly send us underage girls and casting directors to check IDs when casting shoots, shows and campaigns."

"3. We will help to structure mentoring programs where more mature models are able to give advice and guidance to younger girls, and we will help to raise industry-wide awareness through education, as has been integral to the Council of Fashion Designers of America Health Initiative."

"4. We will encourage producers to create healthy backstage working conditions, including healthy food options and a respect for privacy. We will encourage casting agents not to keep models unreasonably late."

"5. We encourage designers to consider the consequences of unrealistically small sample sizes of their clothing, which limits the range of women who can be photographed in their clothes, and encourages the use of extremely thin models."